Pallmer Shares New Album, Swimming, Along With Focus Track, “Carbon”
New Brunswick trio Pallmer share their debut LP, Swimming, which was recorded with JUNO-winning producer Joshua Van Tassel at his secluded home studio on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. The album encompasses 9 songs loosely bound together by their use of nature as a greater metaphor for everyday lived experiences.
“This track changed and developed a lot over time,” said Pallmer singer/cellist Emily Kennedy (she/her) of “Carbon,” the LP focus track. “It’s about the pressure to craft an image of yourself, presenting an almost performative, branded version of your every day to the public. When we first began performing it live, it felt like an amorphous beast, changing show to show. When we brought it to JVT, he sculpted the tune out of all these little ideas we presented him with.”
“Details build the whole of what you are / I am not an image, I’m carbon breathing,” sings Kennedy. “It’s just like blinking at the sun and trying to hold a straight face.”
“I think imperfection, friction, awkwardness are all important parts of being human,” she said. “They create space for conversation, humor and relatability. It’s like in pottery, where you score the clay when you bring two pieces together to create a stronger connection and bond.”
“Carbon” is accompanied by a music video featuring Saint John-based dancer G.C. Grant, which was shot by director Jordan Anthony Greer along the Nashwaak River.
“We shot it at sunrise, just a few days shy of the winter solstice,” Kennedy said. “It was a beautiful, cold morning. At one point there was a herd of deer nearby. We watched the sun come up through the trees while the ice shifted and crackled. The dropped water levels left delicate plates of ice suspended around us.”
Review
“Carbon” delves into themes of self-reflection and authenticity, using vivid metaphors like catching someone’s eye as a mirror reflecting the intricate details that define an individual. The lyrics paint a picture of catching someone’s eye like a mirror, emphasizing the unique details that make each person special. The repeated idea of facing reality, akin to blinking at the sun, highlights the difficulty of staying authentic.
The combination of cello, viola, loopers, and synthesizers enhances the already vivid imagery, creating a sonic landscape that mirrors the complexities explored in the lyrics.
As a whole, “Carbon” deeply explores the challenges of self-discovery and the ongoing struggle to stay genuine amid external pressures. The use of metaphorical language and musical elements adds a compelling and relatable layer to the song, creating an impactful narrative about finding one’s identity in a world that often urges conformity.